The Book Of Galatians – Chapter 5:12-15 - Message 19 – Freedom Brings Extra Responsibility – How To Love One Another, And Christian Cannibalism Series

THE BOOK OF GALATIANS – CHAPTER 5:12-15 - MESSAGE 19 – FREEDOM BRINGS EXTRA RESPONSIBILITY – HOW TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER, AND CHRISTIAN CANNIBALISM

Galatians is a powerful book. Perhaps in this letter Paul’s emotions and spirit are turned over more than in any other letter as he combats the false teaching that has ensnared his dear people in the Galatian region.

Satan and his agents are the major tare sowers and their darnel is spread through the whole world in conjunction with the preaching of the gospel. Christians, and especially the preachers and teachers of the good seed, must be aware of this and take the correct steps to prevent it, just like a farmer does to protect his sown seed.

I think if I could select a gross failure of the Christian church through the ages, it is the fact that the church has been slack and has entertained the enemies of the cross among them and have taken no action against them. One amazing fact we encounter in the Old Testament is this incident regarding Tobiah, the enemy of Israel –

{{Nehemiah 13:4-9 “Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being related to Tobiah, had prepared a large room for him, where formerly they put the grain offerings, the frankincense, the utensils, and the tithes of grain, wine and oil prescribed for the Levites, the singers and the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests, but during all this time I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had gone to the king. After some time, however, I asked leave from the king, and I came to Jerusalem and learned about the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, by preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God, and it was very displeasing to me, so I threw all of Tobiah’s household goods out of the room. Then I gave an order and they cleansed the rooms, and I returned there the utensils of the house of God with the grain offerings and the frankincense.”}}

The priest with an important role actually allowed the enemy Tobiah, not only access to the Lord’s house, but had allowed him to have his living quarters there. What a scandalous thing. I am so sorry to say it, but too many churches allow Tobiahs to take up residence in their churches. Let us pursue the truth of our confession, and cast out the bondwoman, and the Tobiahs, and deal with the false teachers.

The role of a shepherd is just as much important in PROTECTING the sheep as it is in FEEDING THEM. Where are the true shepherds of the sheep today? Thank God for the ministry of men like John Macarthur and Justin Peters who look out for the protection of the sheep.

Systematically the Apostle has been working through his arguments and demolishing both their false teaching and reinforcing the saints to combat the error in which they had become entangled.

We will continue from last time and begin with Paul’s attack against these false teachers.

[A]. DO TO YOURSELVES WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO OTHERS

{{Galatians 5:12 “Would that those who are TROUBLING YOU would even mutilate themselves.”}}

This statement comes from a deep concern and compassion for the Galatians. Those false teachers who were trying to force circumcision on to the Galatian believers, Paul clearly says they can go and mutilate themselves.

This is strong language. The AV translation does not bring out the meaning. Some translate as to make themselves eunuchs, in other words, “cut them out”. The Church fathers Jerome, Ambrose, Augustine, and Chrysostom, explain it, "Would that they would even cut themselves off," that is, cut off not merely the foreskin, but the whole member: if circumcision be not enough for them, then let them have excision also” . . . in other words, “take off the lot”.

Such strong language comes form part anger at what had happened and part from the travesty of what had happened.

Gill takes a lesser view and says this, “the sense of the apostle is, that it was his will and desire that these men should be cut off from the communion of the church.”

Today false teachers trouble the true saints of God. They will be cut off by the Lord, excluded from heaven.

[B]. I AM SAVED SO I CAN DO WHAT I LIKE WITH MY BODY AND LIFE

{{Galatians 5:13 “You were called to freedom, brethren, only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another”}}

O NO YOU CAN’T! Take note of these verses well – {{1 Corinthians 6:16-20 Do you not know that the one who joins himself to a harlot is one body with her for He says, “The two will become one flesh?” but the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own for YOU HAVE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE? THEREFORE GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY.”}}